Steadicam vs Handheld – Which Stabilization is Right for You?
Any good and experienced photographer knows that how you move the camera in the projects affects the message and tone of the shots. It is therefore vital that you adopt the right equipment for the job to ensure that you convey the right information to your audience, at the right time, and in the best possible way.
It is important to keep in mind that your camera plays the major role of the silent narrator of your project. The best and easiest way to differentiate between the motion of the Steadicam and handheld is like the difference between walking and flying. Regardless of the terrain below, Steadicam’s motion is always consistent. Thanks to this consistency, Steadicam is ideal to achieve a smooth, elegant motion. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages.
This article explains in detail the differences between Steadicam and handheld and the situations that call for the use of each.
Steadicam vs Handheld
In your videography and cinematography sessions, you are often required to track action through a location. In these cases, there are only as many pans, cuts, and tilts as you can use to depict the scene.
Sometimes you may think that a few pans can be used to depict the action, but this may not always suffice to achieve the best overall style of the film or mood of the scene. More often, what the action needs is that you follow it. While there are several ways you can achieve this, they can all be categorized into handheld and stabilized.
Stabilized shots basically refer to shots without shakes, in which the camera appears to float through a scene. You can be able to achieve this by using external stabilizers like Steadicam.
Handheld, on the other hand, involves shooting in any style that employs the human element of some level of camera shake. Hence, this article aims to demystify between Steadicam and handheld shots.
Steadicam
A photographer can achieve stabilized shots in many different ways with the help of different kits. An obvious option is the use of a tripod to create a static shot. You can also make use of external stabilizers such as a gimbal, drones, cranes, dollies, jibs, and steady cams to create a stabilized moving shot.
Pros
- It ensures smooth shots
- It is available in many different options
Cons
- It is very expensive
- It takes time to setup
Handheld
Handheld is basically holding the camera without the help of any gadgets or add-ons to stabilize the image. You can make use of shoulder mounts and other rigs to ensure the camera is easier to operate.
Pros
- It is faster to setup and easier to move around
- It offers a cheaper alternative
- Handheld can be more discreet
Cons
- It causes shakes in the shot
Steadicam vs handheld
There are ways to differentiate between a Steadicam shot and a handheld shot.
Relationship between audience and action
One major difference between a Steadicam and a handheld shot lies in the relationship between the audience and the action.
A stabilized shot, as one taken using Steadicam, appears almost ethereal, unaffected by its surroundings, and able to access virtually any area of the scene. Handheld shots often make us feel as though we are part of the action, moving around the characters, and limited by the physical space and objects around us in the scene.
Control and chaos
When it comes to depicting control and chaos, whatever you choose will be purely for visual aesthetics. The director will have to make the ultimate choice. However, it is important to always remember that besides camera movement, everything in the film has an impact on your audience’s perception of the story.
Price
Sometimes you may have to make camera movement choices based on your budget. If you are working with a low-to-no-budget, you may have to settle on handheld. Stabilized shots will cost you, and Steadicam in particular is very expensive. You are required to find ways that best work for your story as well as the mood of the scene.
Still, if you are hell-bent on a shake-free, smooth motion, there are different alternatives you can always go for. There is also the option of hiring Steadicam and an operator for $1000 per day.
When to Use Steadicam or Handheld?
Handheld or Steadicam can be determined by different situations. Many may wonder when they can use either technique.
Intention
An important element in your decision-making process should always be your intention. It may be influenced by a number of factors but it would be best to consider the genre, the atmosphere you wish to create, and the style you are aiming for.
Basically, all genres can do with both handheld and Steadicam. But when it comes to horror, handheld would be the best choice seeing as it is an action scene.
The camera movement should be aimed at putting the audience on edge and the reduced visibility to build tension. Comedy is also another genre that would be best depicted using handheld.
Cost
Cost is no longer much of a consideration. With the advancement in technology, gimbals, drones, and other kits are becoming more affordable to buy and rent as well.
However, if you are working with a larger camera, it could be an expensive venture. Still, the handheld is a much cheaper option as it requires small mounts and rigs.
Efficiency
Time is a valuable commodity. Setting up kits such as dollys, gimbals, Steadicam, and cranes properly to ensure the safety and quality of filming may consume plenty of time.
Meanwhile, handheld requires little setup and can speed up filming as they allow you to easily move from one shot to the next without moving a heavy kit. Moreover, handheld tends to be more discreet if you are filming a hidden camera show.
FAQs
What is a Steadicam?
Steadicam was a well-known and widely used camera that was specifically made for cinema production cameras. It was popular among many videographers looking to create steady-moving shots. It does not contain any gyros or motors but allows you to achieve great results with video recordings with stabilized results.
What are the benefits of using the Steadicam?
Steadicam employs a very robust technology that is not likely to fail at any stage of shooting. It is suitable for larger and heavy-weight cameras. Steadicam allows fast operation as it will only take a few seconds for an experienced operator to balance this tool.
Conclusion
We have outlined the important considerations to think about when deciding to use handheld or Steadicam. However, remember that the camera work should never take away from the story. Either way, you can decide on handheld or Steadicam based on your shooting needs and the desired ultimate perception of the audience.
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